Multicylinder pressing machine



Feb. 24, 1942. J. F. RAYNOLDS Re. 22,041

MULTICYLINDER PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 13, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet l [VVE/VTOE JOHN F. EA YNOL D:

Feb. 24, 1942. J F, RAYNQLDS Re. 22,041

MULTICYLINDER PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 13, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet. :5

' [NVENTOE H6.-3 J-OHN E EA YNOL 0s pl! V Q? M Feb. 24, 1942. J"FRAYNQLDS I Re. 22,041

MULTICYLINDER PRESS INC MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 13, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet 4 ACTUATING l 1-6 POSITION PRESJ ACTUATING I34 I PILOT CYLINDER LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND ACTUAT/NG L/CTUAT/NG CONTR PRESS 4951.515 EPOSITION :3 P76. 7

- PRESS REL 5/155 14 CTUAT/NG CON TROL [NVENTOE JOHN F. EAYNOLDSflrrozrvsvar SMALL- CYL/NDEQ Feb. 24, 1942.

J. F. RAYNOLDS MULTICYLINDER PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 13,1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Reissued Feb. 24, 1942 22,041 MULTICYLINDERPRESSING MACHINE John F. Raynolds, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to TheUnipress Company,

Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Original N0.2,242,481, dated May 20, 1941, Serial 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to garment or laundry presses ofthe'multi-cylinder type and has for an object, the provision of a simplemechanical construction by which such presses may rapidly be movedtoward closed position and thereafter squeezed under heavy pressure tocomplete the pressing operation.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism which will be economicalin the use of compressed air.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism whichwill, during usage, automatically compensate for compression of the buckpad and variation of thickness of garments being pressed.

According to previous methods of operating multi-cylinder machines, ithas been customary to close the presser head into or nearly into contactwith the buck by means of a primary motor and then to apply power to asecondary motor which effects final closure and squeezing of thepressing head upon the buck. In such pressing machines, the applicationof power to the secondary motor has been accomplished by means ofapparatus controlled by the operation of the press, that is to say, theapplication of power to the secondary motor has been carried out at apredetermined time after the press closing is initiated or at apredetermined position of the presser head with respect to thestationary buck. Such pressing machines have been subject to variousobjections.

According to the present invention the application of power in such amulti-cylinder press is made simultaneously to the primary motor and tothe secondary motor, but the secondary motor is mechanically preventedfrom operating until the pressing head reaches a predetermined positionnear the buck, at which time the secondary motor is permitted to workand to move the presser head into final pressing engagement with thebuck.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedmulti-cylinder pressing machine in which power is simultaneously appliedto the primary and secondary motors.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved.multi-cylinder pressing machine in which the secondary or squeezingmotor is mechanically prevented from actuating until the press has beenclosed to a predetermined safe intermediate position by means of theprimary motor notwithstanding the fact that power is simultaneouslyapplied to both motors when the press closure is initiated.

December 13, 1939. Application for reissue October 10, 1941, Serial No.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedstructural arrangement of parts which is simple and economical tomanufacture and which may be assembled expeditiously.

It is a further ob'ect of the invention to provide an improvedmulti-motor pressing machine having a greatly reduced number of partsand having simplified, unified parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system of controlswhereby it is impossible for the operator of the press to become injuredwhile operating the press.

Other objects of the invention are those inherent in the inventionherein illustrated, described and claimed. These and other objects ofthe invention will become apparent in the description.

In the description hereinafter given, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings in which like characters represent correspondingparts in all views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the pressingmachine embodying the features and mechanisms of the present inventionand showing the pressing machine in pressopen position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the featuresand mechanisms of the present invention and in full lines showing thepress just as it is at the beginning of the squeezing operation.

Figure 3 is a kinematic diagram showing the various pressing elements ina plurality of positions between the open position and the severalclosed positions.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing certain of the parts in sectionor partly in section. The large or secondary motor of the pressingmachine, together with a pneumatically operated relay valve forcontrolling the same, (shown in the upper part of Figure 4) are afragmentary view partly in section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, whilethe pipe circuits, operating valves (which are shown in section) and afragmentary section of the small or primary motor of the assembly areexposed in diagrammatic relationship.

Figure 5 is asectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 andillustrates the control valve of the secondary motor in the press-closedposition.

Figure '7 is a sectional view along the line or Figure 5 and illustratesthe control valveof the secondary motor in the press-opened position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View of the control buttons for operating thepress.

Figure 9 is a vertical view partly in section of a modified pressembodying the present inven-- THE Hmvv DUTY Press This embodiment of thepresent invention includes a main frame, preferably fabricated fromstructural shapes. The frame includes a bed frame member I upon whichare mounted columns 2 and 3 and top frame member 4. Mounted upon the topframe 4 adjacent column 3 is a pedestal 5 which serves to carrystationary pressing buck 6 which is covered with a conventional buck padI. This pad may be of any desired construction such as a cotton-filled,cloth-covered pad, or a pad containing a large number of small springsor other resilient elements. While the details of the pad constructionform no part of the present invention, it should be borne in mind that abuck pad as presently used, frequently consists of material which isloose and thick when fresh, but which material gradually becomes mattedand takes a permanent set as it is used. This results in a graduallyreceding surface 8 upon which the cooperative movable "pressing, member9 seats. The buck 1 may be heated by steam or electricity if desired.

The movable pressing element 9 is heated in any desired manner, such asby steam under pressure, or electrically, and is carried by a pressingarm I which is pivoted at point H at the upper end of column 2.

The operating mechanism of the press includes primary and secondarypneumatic motors generally designated l2 and [3 respectively. Primarymotor l2 consists of a cylindrical shell I4 in which piston I5 andpiston rod l6 move when air under pressure is admitted thereto. Thelow-- er end of primary motor [2 is pivoted to column 2 at point l1 andthe piston rod is connected by means of clevis lfia at its upper end topivot point I8 on presser arm It) (as shown in Figures 1 and 2). It willbe observed that in this construction, piston rod I6 acts directly uponthe movable presser arm ID to change its position from the open positionshown in Figure 1 to the nearly closed position shown in the full linesof Figure 2.

The primary motor l2 moves the press from open position to a safeintermediate position which is nearly but not quite closed. In order tocomplete closure of the press and to apply heavy ironing pressure, thereis provided a large sec ondary motor I3. The large secondary motor,

generally designated l3, completes closure of the press and appliesheavy pressure to the buck after the head 9 has been brought into closeproximity to the buck through the action of primary motor I2.

preliminary Secondary motor channel 24.

I as to slide against the side faces I 3 consists of cylindrical memberI9 which is held between cylinder heads and 2| by means of through bolts22. The cylinder head 20 is constructed so that it can be pivoted atpoint 38 upon bracket 23 which is in turn mounted upon The latter is inturn carried by front columns 3 of the press. Piston rod 25 carriespiston 26 in cylinder [9 and is provided at its outer end with abifurcated member 21 which is the threaded portion 28 a cam trackwayhaving an arcuate section 39 and a cam wedge section 3|. A roller 32 ismounted by means of an anti- It will be noted also that the ends ofbifurcated member 21 are widened so 34 of the trackway thereby to addstability to ber with a similar bifurcated member 35. 31 is adjustablyattached to bifurcated member 35 by means of screw 36 so that the threemembers form a solid inextensible link, which may, however, be adjustedin length. No adjustment of the link is ordinarily necessary after themachine is initially assembled, and it is therefore considered as aninextensible link. The upper end 31 is pivoted to arm ID at the point31a.

The bracket 29, in which cam track 3| is formed, is mounted in fixedrelationship with respect to the lower horizontal member I of the Thedetails of the cam track construction are illustrated in Figures 1, 2and 3 which show the operation linkages in four illustrative as itscenter the pivot pin 20 of cylinder I9 is fixed to The surface 3| is acurved wedge having a gradually decreasing rad1us which results in anupturned end. It is to be understood, of course, that the portion 3|need not be exactly circular, but may be of any gradually rising curve.

buck pad 1 with heavy pressure.

The two portions to and 3| of the cam slot are joined together by atransition curve 39 of relatively short radius, and the length of thearouate portion 38 and position of the transition curve 39 are made suchthat the large cylinder I3 is prevented from operating until the presserhead 9 has reached a safe position sufliciently close to the buck 7 thatthe operator of the machine is precluded from moving her hands from thecontrols to any point between the presser head 9 and the buck l. Thetransition curve 39 preferably has a comparatively short radius and theroller 32 is likewise made of comparatively small diameter in order thatthe transition between curves 3% and 3| may be comparatively abrupt.

The open press position is designated a in Figure 3, while the beginningof transition curve 39 is designated b. The transition curve extendsto'position c which is also the beginning of the arcuate wedge, portion3.I of the cam slot. This latter portion 3| continuesoutwardlytoposition 7 d ,which' representsjthe limit of press movement achievedwhenthe buck padis worn and, matted after-longusa.

By making the radius of curve 35 short and the diameterof roller 32small, the presser head may be maintained under the exclusive control ofthe primary motor-from position 11 until the press has closed toposition b, at which position, head 9 is a very short or .safe distancefrom the buck 1. Accordingly should the operator release the controlsprior to the time that roller 32 reaches transition curve 39 (positionb) the press will return to open position under the influence of theopening springs, notwithstanding air under pressure is applied tosecondary motor I3. 7

The press is provided with a pair of springs 40, one on each side oflink 35. The springs 40 are pivotally attached to a bracket 4| mountedin the base and are pivotally attached to a through rod 42 which ismounted upon the link 35. If desired, an adjustment screw. 43 may beprovided so as to varythe tension of each of the spr As explained abovethe springs serve to move the press from closed to open position and toreturn the press to open position from any intermediate position. Arubber or leather pad 44 is provided upon the top part of cam frame 29.Pad 44 provides a seat for spring attachment pivot 42 v and cushions theopening of the press.

A pilot valve generally designated I is mounted upon cylinder I3 andconsists of a valve outlet port I23 and an exhaust port I24. The valvebody has a transverse bore I which receives an operating shaft I3I. Tothe outwardly extending end I32 of operating shaft I3I, there is'attached an operating lever I33 having arms I34 and I36. The valveoperating arm I34 is connected to a piston rod I35 of pilot cylinder I25by means of a clevis I38 which may be adjusted with reference to thepiston rod I35 by I36 is connected to the piston rod I31 of pilotcylinder I26 by means of a clevis I40 and is likewise adjustable bymeans of lock nuts MI.

The valve I20 is preferably mounted directly I50, which thus not onlyserves to connect the port I23 of the valve I20 to cylinder I3, but alsomechanically to support the valve I20.

The pilot cylinder I25 is mounted upon the tie likewise similarlymounted on the opposite side of cylinder I3 by means of tie rod I46.

piston rod I31 will be thrust outwardly and will move the arm I36upwardly in the direction of arrow I44 (Figure 4) and when air isadmitted to the pilot cylinder I25, the arm I35 will be moved upwardlyin the direction of arrow I45. The pistons of pilot cylinders I25 andI26 are as to provide a clearance of about .010 inch and there isaccordingly a slight air leakage around them so that when eithercylinder is operated other cylinder) will not compress the air in thatcylinder for more than a short interval of time. The slight air leakagearound the piston of the operating cylinder is inconsequential.

, The valve body I2'I is provided with a passagebody I2I having an airinlet port I22 and an air means of lock nuts I39. The valve operatingarm upon cylinder I3 by means of a short pipe nipple v} rod I45ofcylinder I3 while pilot cylinder I26 is When air is admitted to thepilot cylinder I25,

preferably made of graphite-brass composition so as to beselflubricating. They are machined so (with consequent movement of thepiston in the way. I5Lwhich connects the exhaust, port I24 to a port 154in the face 'of .the valve body andis provided :with anotherlpassageway: I 52 which terminates in the secondport I53in the face of 1the valve body. As will be explained below, port I24 is an exhaust portand port I23 is the outlet.

The operating shaft I3I of valve I20 is provided withvan inner circularhead I which seats within acircular recess, I6I inthe. right hand sideof the valve body as shown in Figure 5-. Thevcircular head I60 isprovided with a transverse key I62 which fits in a keyway I63 of a valveelement generally designated I64. The valve element I64 has aconfiguration such as that shown in Figures 5, 6 and 1 and is providedwith circular recess I65 into which the head I60 of the operating shaftfits. At the base of the recess I65 there is formed the keyway I63previously mentioned. Element I64 is provided with a through passagewayI61 and with a cutout portion I60 on the under side thereof.

Surface I10 of the valve element is lapped smooth and operates upon acorresponding lapped surface of the valve body. Element I64 is pressedin close engagement of the valve body by means of a spring I13 which iscompressed against the valve element I64 by means of cap I16, Cap I16 isheld on the valve body by means of a pluralityof screws I11, and agasket I10 is preferably provided so as to make an airtight jointbetween the valve capI16 and body I2I.

' It' will be noted there is a space between the upper surface of theshaft head I65 and key I62 respectively and the recesses of the valveele- 1 ment I64 into which these portions of the shaft that as theformer is rotated the latter will be likewise rotated.

The valve I20 has sufficient internal friction that it remains in theposition into which it is actuated by means of the lever arms I34 andI36, and their cooperating pilot cylinders I25 and I26.

When the valve I20 is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, asoccurs when press actuating pilot cylinder I25 is or has been actuated,

. the valve element I64 is moved to a position such that port I61 of thevalve element is in alignment with port I53 of the valve body. As aconsequence, airunder pressure is admitted through supply pipe I andtravels in the direction of arrow I8I through passageway I61 of thevalve element I64, and passageway I53 of the valve body I2I to pipenipple I50 and thence to the interior of the large cylinder l3.

When the valve is in the position shown in t Figure 7 as occurs when therelease pilot cylinder I26 is or has been operated, the arcuate recessI60of the valve element I64 is positioned such that a communicatingchannel is afforded from port I53 through the arcuate under slot I68 andthence into port I54 and through passageway I5I. Passageway I5Iterminates at exhaust port In the preferred construction, the exhaustmuffler I is mounted directly upon the pipe I I89 which is screwed intothe exhaust port I24 of valve I20.

The manual controls of the press shown in Figure 8 consist of aplurality of manually operated buttons 45, 46 and 41 which are slidably-mounted in openin s 48 in the table panel 49 of the press. Button 45 isthe release button Operation of heavy duty, press and when actuatedserves to consummate the Under normal condition-s the press is in theopening of the press Buttons 46 and 41 are en osition shown in Figure 1at which time identical with button 45 and are respectively the 5migrating head 9 is held in an elevated posi right hand and the lefthand operating conth n s rm 5 40' Under trols. The buttons 46 and 41 arearranged so Ion due to 6 ac 10 of p g explained below the valves arecoupled in series Sure is supplied to chamber of the combined releaseand right hand valves and is also supoperated posmon m order to Inmateclosmg 1O plied to the portion of valve I20 above the valve of thePresselement I64 by means of tube I80.

The operating connection between the buttons In Order to close thepress, the Operator 46 and 47 m correspondmg valves erates the righthand control button 45 and the 56 and 10 are identical and thedescription of 1 f t 1 b M n 41 en urs button 41 and its connection toleft hand control e t hand con m u o Wh 1 the lower end of button 41there is a stem 50 whlcht 1s plvotiny connected to 5 i q ig g of theleft hand valve. Since the left hand valve $2 2; i g l ggggs g 3 z i isalso open at this time, air flows through valve screw 52 which abutsagainst the stem of the left hand control valve 10. through plpe to thIn Figure 4 the control operating circuits and der '25 of valve '20 theinterior construction of the control valves are diagrammaticallyillustrated. Release button 45 operates release valve 55 which iscontained in the same casing at the right hand control valve 56 (whichis operated by button 46). The left hand control valve 10 is contained32 33 3 31? is; gi s fig gi g gi ggg ggggfi a is operated by the leftI80 accordingly flows through port I61 in valve The combined release andright hand control 35 element and through port to plpe Valve casing hasan antrum chamber which and thence to the secondary motor I3. Hence, isprovided with valve port 58 of release valve 55 and valve port 59 of theright hand control valve 56. The release valve has stem 55a having ahead 65, and the entire valve is biased to the 40 secondary motor It isObvious that in the action of supplying air to the primary and secondarycylinders I2 and I3, there is no attempt nght hand 9 01 va lve and has ato time or delay the flow of air to high pressure stem 53. This valve 1slikewise biased to the cylinder H, but on the contrary, the applicationclosed position by spring 66. The combmed of air is made simultaneouslyto both cylinders.

lease and right hand control valve casing is pr Pilot cylinder I25 andvalve I20 are rapidly opunder pressure at all tim in th antr m howeverprevented because the arcuate section ch mb 51 30 of the cam slotprecludes movement of the Adjoining valve port 58, there is a secondaryPiston 28 in Secondary O until the press chamber 50 which is Connectedby tube 6| to head has moved to a safe position close to the pilotcylinder I26 previously described. Adjabuckcent the valve port 59 of theright hand valve when the buttons 45 and 7 are pressed,

there is a chamber 52 which is connected with piston rod I6 of theprimary motor is thrust outwardly but piston rod 25 of the secondarymotor gigevigvtgo the chamber 63 of the left hand con is held frommoving.

The left hand control valve is provided with a tuate an a c rdi casinghaving valve port 68 that is normally d C 0 ngly moves Dresser armclosed by a Valve Lil!e Valves and opening influence of springs 40. Dueto the acvalve 54 is biased to the closed position by spring on fprimary motor m and piston rod 3 t 66 The valve port 68 communicateswith champressing arm I 0 moves from open press posiber 69 which isconnected with tube I I I to the tion a through the safe position b, atwhich time p o Cylinder I 25 of valve I20. The tube II1 the presser head9 is very close to the buck I,

has a branch II8 which is connected directly and then through position0. Throughout this to the primary motor I2. motion, the roller 32 isheld in tight contact It will be noted that a portion of the valve withthe arcuate p0 accordingly lifts link 35 which, due to its pivotalconnection to the presser arm, exerts a heavy pressure between thepresser head 9 and the buck 1.

The stopping position of the roller 32 along arcuate portion 3I of thecam trackway is determined by the air pressure in the cylinder I9, theforce exerted by springs 40 and the resisting pressure of the buckpad 1. When the pad is fresh and thick, or when a heavy garment is inthe press, the roller will cease movement at a position such as positionin Figure 3. In this position the presser head is in contact with thepad at level 0. As the pad 1 is compressed during use, the surface isgradually lowered from 0 through intermediate stopping positions to thelimiting position (1. Thus the limiting positions of roller 32 willgradually shift from position 0 of Figure 3, which is the position whenthe pad is fresh, through intermediate positions, and then to position(1, which is the position when the pad has been fully compressed in useand ready for replacement. Adjustment of the press to accommodate forthe compression during the life of the pad is thereby renderedunnecessary, and by proper selection of the curve 3I, the pressure ofhead 9 upon buck 1 is substantially the same through the range ofcompressions of the buck pad, and the same regardless of the thicknessof the work being pressed.

This automatic adjustment feature also compensates for variations in thethickness of garments being pressed. It should be noted that adjustingscrews on piston rod 25 and on link 35--36 need not be varied after themachine is assembled and balanced. The upward force exerted by link 3536increases slightly as the limiting position of roller 32 moves to theleft, as shown in Figure 2, due to the fact that link 35-36 becomesnearer the right angle position with respect to presser arm I0, but thisincrease is counteracted by the increased tension in springs 40 and bythe rising curvature of portion 3I of the slot. This results in asubstantially constant pressure being exerted upon the' pad whether itis new and thick, or compressed as after severe usage.

It will be noted that piston 26 is not moved in cylinder I9 of thesecondary motor during the time the press is being opened or closedunder the influence of the compressed air in motor I2 because section 30of the cam track is the circumference of a circle, the center of whichis pivot point 38. Thus as the pressing elements close upon each other,the roller 32, bifurcated member oscillates upwardly without beingextended, until the roller reaches the transition curve 39 of thetrackway, even though there is heavy pressure between roller 32 andportion 30 of the slot in bracket 29.

When operating buttons 46 and 41 are released after the press is closed,the air inthe cylinder of primary motor I2 is accordingly exhausted viapipes III! and pipe II1, chamber 69 and port 1|, which at this time isuncovered due to the movement of valve stem 54 to the release position,and thence to atmosphere. In the event the left hand button should beheld down while the right hand button is released, the air from primarymotor I2 is nevertheless exhausted from chamber 69, through port 68,tube 64, chamber 62 and port 61, which at thi time is uncovered due 21,piston rod 25, and secondary motor I3 simply to the movement of valvestem to the released position.

The press will remain closed under the influence of the heavy pressureof secondary motor I3 until release valve 55 is operated by pressureupon button 45. Whenthis occurs, air is admitted from chamber 51 throughvalve port 59 to chamber 60 and thence through pipe 6| to pilot releasecylinder I26, which serves to move the valve I20 to the position shownin Figure 7. When this occurs a passageway is completed from thecylinder I9 of secondary motor I3 through pipe I50 to port I53 andthence through arcuatesection I68 in the under side of valve element I64to port I54 and thence through passageway I5I to the exhaust port I24,exhaust pipe I89 and exhaust muffler I90. Theair within cylinder I9accordingly rushes outwardly through the exhaust muffler. As thisoccurs, spring 40 quickly moves the roller 32 downwardly along thearcuate wedge portion 3I in bracket 29 and thence around the transitioncurve 39 to the arcuate portion 30 to the open press position.

In the event the buttons 46 and 41 are operated, (with consequentsubstantially instantaneous operation of valve I20 which applies air tocylinder I9 of secondary motor I3)' and are then released before theroller 32 has moved to the transition curve 39, the press will openunder influence of springs 40 notwithstanding there is a heavy pressureexerted by secondary motor I3 between roller 32 and slot 30. The roller32 is preferably journaled on needle roller bearings and the rollingresistance is therefore small, even though the pressure is heavy. Shouldthe buttons 46 and 41 again be operated, the press will close quicklyand smoothly even with the full force of roller 32 exerted upon arcuateportion 30 of the slot.

The movement of the press during opening and closing is preferablycontrolled by hydraulic shock absorber, generally designated I which maybe of any approved type, preferably a variable resistance type- Thehydraulic shock absorber I95 is provided with a lever arm I96-which isconnected by means of links I91 to pivot 31a of the presser arm I0. Insome instances, however, a second shock absorber may be coupled directlyupon member 28.

Construction of light duty press The press illustrated in Figure 9 isrelatively small as compared to the press illustrated in Figures 1, 2and 3, and is intended for the finishing of relatively small areas ofgarments and for the ironing of small pieces.

The frame of the light duty press consists of a bed plate 20I, uponwhich there is mounted in vertical position an open back channel havinga front portion 203 and side portions 202. The open back channel ispreferably formed by bending a piece of relatively heavy gauge sheetmetal into the desired channel shape. Near the upper portion of each ofthe side members 202 there is an upwardly and backwardly extending arm204. The arms 2'04 serve to carry the pivot 2 upon which the presser arm2I0 is mounted, and the presser arm carries a movable pressing head 209,which moves into and out of pressing engagement with buck 206. The buck206 is carried upon a pedestal 205, which is in turn bolted to the upperportion of the channel 202-203 by means of bolts. The channel 202- 203is preferably attached to the bed plate 20I by welding.

The work table 249 i preferably of sheet metal and is likewise carriedin fixed relationship upon the pressing machine, the outer portion ofthe table being provided with openings for the control buttons such asthose shown in Figure 8.

The buck 206 is provided with a buck pad 201 of resilient materialwhich, as explained with reference to the heavy duty press, is graduallycompressed during use.

Within the open back channel 202203, there is positioned the primary orpress closing motor generally designated 2I2, which is pivotallyconnected at 2 I 1 to the front portion 203 of the press frame channel.Primary motor 2I2 i provided with a piston and piston rod 2I6, which ispivotally connected by means of pivot pin 2I8 to the rearwardlyextending portion of the presser arm 2"). Adjacent the pivot 2I8 is thesecond pivot 2I9, to which an inextensible link 235 is connected afterthe manner described for the heavy duty press. A spring 240 is attachedto the front portion 203 of the channel by means of an eye bolt 24I andis attached to the inextensible link 235 by means of a pivot connection242. A in the heavy duty press, the inextensible link 235 is composed ofa downwardly extending bifur cated member, which is connected by meansof an adjustment screw 236 to an upper bifurcated member 231. Theadjustment screw is locked in adjusted position by means of locking nutsthereon and ordinarily is not adjusted after the assembly of theapparatus has been completed.

Upon the bed plate 20I, there is pivotally mounted at 238 a secondarymotor generally designated 2I3, which is provided with a piston andpiston rod 228. The piston rod has connected thereto a bifurcated member221, which is pivotally connected at 233 to the bifurcated member 235 ofthe inextensible link. The pivot 233 consists of a through pin, whichcarries a roller 232 between the forks of bifurcated member 235.

and is arranged to operate in a cam slot of bracket 229.

closed press position by dotted lines.

The movement of the press of a hydraulic shock absorber generallydesignated I25, which may be of any approved type, preferably of avariable resistance type, The hydraulic shock absorber 295 than directlyupon the large operating cylinder as in the heavy duty press. As in theheavy duty press, the rotary valve I 20 of the light duty press isarranged to be operated by a pair of pilot cylinders, one of which isillustrated at I25. The pilot cylinders are mounted upon pins 245, whichare attached to the frame channel 203 of the press.

Above the rotary valve I20, there is mounted an exhaust muffler I90 anda flexible hose connection 250 is provided between the rotary valve andthe large operating cylinder 2I3.

Operation 09 the light duty press As in the heavy duty press, the pilotcylinders of which pilot cylinder I25 is visible in Figure 9 arearranged to be operated by a plurality of control buttons 45, 46 and 41,which are arranged to operate valves 55, 56 and 10 respectively. Theactuation of the right and left-hand control buttons 46 and 41respectively causes the actuation of valves 56 and 10 respectively,which in turn provides a flow of air from control line III through theactuated valves 56 and 10 to pipe I I1 which causes the simultaneousactuation of the press actuating pilot cylinder I25 and the small pressclosing cylinder 2I2. Thus. (as in the the actuation of the right andsimultaneous introduction of air into the cylinder tion 230 of the camslot.

As the press 209 is brought to a position close to the buck 201 theroller 232 reaches the transition curve 239, and at this instant, thesecondary motor 2| 3 is for the first time permitted to operate. Due tothe pressure in motor 2 I 3, piston ment with the buck 201.

When it is desired to open the press, the release button 45 is actuatedwhich accordingly opens valve 55, and causes the introduction of airinto the press release pilot cylinder I 26. When this occurs, valve I20is moved to the position shown in Figure 7, and the air then underpressure in the cylinder of secondary motor H3 is exhausted toatmosphere through mufiier I90. The press accordingly opens under theinfluence of spring 240.

of the cylinder space is then small), but over rapid movement of thesecondary motor piston during final closure is inhibited.

The patent, of which this application is an is a continuation-in-part ofmy application Serial Number 182,452, filed December 30, 1937, nowPatent Number 2,242,480,

It is obvious that made in the details of the apparatus hereinillustrated and described without, departing from the spirit of theinvention which is claimed.

valves, 56 and 10 causes the What I claim is:

1. In a garment or laundry press, a frame, a presser arm pivotedintermediate its ends for oscillation with respect to said frame, a pairof cooperating pressing elements, one mounted on the frame and anotheron the arm, a link pivoted to said arm at a point removed from the pivotpoint of the arm on the frame, and a longitudinally extensible fluidmotor, pivoted at one end to said frame and pivotally connected at theother end to said link, a cam surface for guiding the pivotal junctionpoint of said link and said longitudinally extensible motor, comprisinga segment of a circumference smoothly joined to a substantially arcuat-ewedge oriented so that mo tion of the junction point along said arcuatewedge moves the press toward closed position, motor means for moving thepivotal junction of said longitudinally extensible motor and said linkalong said cam surface, and two-hand control means for simultaneouslyapplying power to said motor means to initiate closing action of thepress and fluid pressure to the fluid motor to effect movement of saidpivotal junction point along the cam to cause final closing of thepress.

2. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a presser arm pivotallymounted on said frame, a first motor having a cylinder and piston formoving the presser arm toward press closed position, a second motorhaving a cylinder and piston, a pivot for mounting the cylinder of thesecond cylinder motor on the frame and a link directly connected betweenthe presser arm and the second piston rod whereby the cylinder andpiston rod will be moved about the cylinder pivot as a center when thepresser arm is' moved from open press position toward closed pressposition, and a cam guide including an arcuate segment oriented aroundthe cylinder pivot point as a center for restraining outward movement ofthe piston rod throughout a portion of said press closing movement, awedge segment formed to present a progressively increasing deviationtowards the presser arm from a radius through the cylinder pivot, andtwo-hand operator controlled means for substantially simultaneouslyapplying fluid pressure to the cylinders of both motors, to initiateclosing of the press by action of the first motor and then apply finalironing pressure by action of the second motor.

3. A garment or. laundry press comprising a frame, a presser arm pivotedintermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary pressing elementmounted on the frame, a movable pressing element mounted on said presserarm for cooperating engagement with said stationary pressing element, afirst longitudinally extensible fluid motor coupled between the frameand presser arm for actuating the latter, a second longitudinallyextensible motor, pivot means for connecting one end of said secondmotor to the frame, an inextensible link having one of its endspivotally connected to the presser arm and the other of its endspivotally connected to the second motor, cam guide means for the pivotalconnection between the inextensible link and the second motor, andtwo-hand operator controlled means for controlling flow of air to thefirst motor, and relay valve means operated when the two-hand operatorcontrolled cause actuation of the second fluid motor for effectingmovement of said pivotal connection along the cam guide means forcausing final closing of the press.

4. A garment or laundry press comprising a frame, a presser arm pivotedintermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary pressing elementmounted on the frame, a movable pressing element mounted on said presserarm for cooperating engagement with said stationary pressing element, afirst longitudinally extensible fluid motor coupled between the frameand presser arm for actuating the latter, a second longitudinallyextensible motor, pivot end of said second motor to the frame, aninextensible link having one of its ends pivotally connected to thepresser arm and the other of its ends pivotally connected to the secondmotor, cam guide means for the pivotal connection between theinextensible link and the second motor, operator controlled means forcontrolling flow of air to the second motor, a relay valve means havingan air introducing position and an air ex-' haust position forcontrolling the flow of air to and from the second motor, a first relayfluid motor for moving the relay valve to the position for introducingair into the second motor, said first relay fluid motor being connectedto the operator controlled means for operation simultaneously with thefirst fluid motor, a second relay fluid motor and operator controlledmeans for supplying air thereto for moving the relay valve to theposition for exhausting air from the second fluid motor.

5. The combination set in the relay valve means 0nd fluid motor.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the relay valve means ismounted on the second fluid motor.

forth in claim 3 whereis mounted on the sec- JOHN F. RAYNOLDS.

means is moved to means for connecting one

